Method and apparatus for improved use, maintenance and management of floor maintenance equipment

ABSTRACT

A control unit for improving the use, simplifying the maintenance, and organizing the management of floor maintenance equipment. The control unit can include a processing unit, a mechanical input channel, a memory system, other input means, communication means, data output means, and sensors. The control unit is electrically interconnected with the floor maintenance equipment so that operations can be controlled and data can be stored regarding the use of the equipment. This data is also able to be exported from the memory system to a computer, such as one connected to the Internet.

PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority from the provisional patentapplication, serial No. 60/285,579, filed on Apr. 20, 2001, entitledMethod and Apparatus for Improved Use, Maintenance and Management ofFloor Maintenance Equipment, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to floor maintenanceequipment, and more particularly relates to methods and apparatusesutilized to improve the use, the maintenance, and the management offloor maintenance equipment.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] There are many instances whereby the use, maintenance andmanagement of the use and maintenance of floor maintenance equipment(“equipment”) could be improved.

[0006] Safety issues are one possible area of improvement. The potentialunauthorized use of equipment by individuals who are not competent touse the equipment could lead to injury or property damage. For instance,a child could by injured by using the equipment. Another example wouldbe if an untrained person were to use the equipment in a dangerousmanner, or where the untrained person attempts to use the equipment in amanner for which it was not designed, thereby damaging the equipment.

[0007] Productivity issues are another potential area of improvement. Ifa manager was able to track the use and maintenance of such equipment,the manager would be better able to make his/her employees moreproductive. This could be through making the employees more efficient,or through maintaining the equipment as needed to maintain operation ofthe equipment while minimizing “down-time.”

[0008] Maintenance issues are another potential area of improvement.Many times, equipment is not maintained properly. Equipment often timescontains consumable components which need to be examined, if notreplaced, in regular intervals. Simplifying the maintenance processwould be a tremendous benefit.

[0009] These issues are not properly addressed in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is a method and apparatus for improving theuse, simplifying the maintenance, and organizing the management of floormaintenance equipment.

[0011] One embodiment of the invention is an improvement to a floormaintenance tool. Floor maintenance tools can include a number ofdifferent designs, typically each of which has a motor and a tool head.The motor and tool head combination can form a vacuum cleaner, a buffer,a sander, a waxer, and other floor maintenance tools. For purposes ofconsistency, a vacuum cleaner will be referenced as a typical floormaintenance tool of the application.

[0012] The improvement in its most basic form is a lockout switch whichshuts off electricity to the electric motor of the floor maintenancetool unless is deactivated. The lockout switch is associated with acontrol unit which activates or deactivates the lockout switch based onactions of the user. The device also includes predetermined controlparameters by which the control unit operates to deactivate or activatethe lockout switch. The control unit can be a mechanical input device inwhich a user enters an access code, or a password, or inserts a key orits equivalent to unlock the device. Such use of an access code, apassword, or a key, deactivates the lockout switch, and allows the userto turn on the floor maintenance tool. In this case, entry of the accesscode, password, or key type device is the control parameter. The controlunit could also be a digital input device in which the user enters analphanumeric access code, which deactivates the lockout switch andallows the user to turn on the floor maintenance tool.

[0013] The control unit of the improved floor maintenance tool caninclude an electronic system which includes memory storage, a timer, acomputation unit, and one or more system sensors which sense a conditionin one or more systems of the floor maintenance tool, and makes acomputation based on the condition being sensed, and sends output to adisplay unit, the output contents being based on the predeterminedcondition rules. These predetermined condition rules can be related tomotor temperature, motor RPM, motor amps, airflow, air pressure, beltcondition, or other parameters of interest.

[0014] In a floor maintenance tool with such an electronic system, oneconfiguration of the invention could sense the temperature of the motor,and compare the sensed temperature with an acceptable range oftemperatures which had been entered as a predetermined condition rule.If the temperature was out of range, the computation unit would send anappropriate message to the display unit. For example, the message couldstate that the motor is overheating. The “message” could also be aflashing light. Another condition which could be sensed is airflow in anair conduit system, such as in a vacuum cleaner. The airflow would besensed and compared in the computation unit with an acceptable range ofairflow, which had been entered as a predetermined condition rule. Ifthe airflow is out of range, an alarm message would be sent to thedisplay unit. Besides having an alarm message, the computation unitcould have the logic to activate the lockout switch, and shut offelectricity to the electric motor of the floor maintenance unit if thecondition sensed was far enough out of range.

[0015] One way to achieve this is to enter a first acceptable range ofairflow, and a first range of unacceptable airflow. If the airflow isbelow the first acceptable range of airflow and within the firstunacceptable range of airflow, then the computational unit sends awarning message to the display unit. However, if the airflow is belowthe first unacceptable range of airflow, then the computational unitwould activate the lockout switch and shut off electricity to theelectric motor unit it is deactivated.

[0016] One version of the device could also sense whether the motor ison or off, and keep a record in storage of the total time that the motorhad been operated. This motor time could be compared to replacementschedules for various system components, and when sufficient motor timehad accumulated, the system components would be signaled by way of thedisplay unit that their time for replacement had arrived or passed. Thedisplay unit would thus display messages concerning the need to replacecertain components, such as belts, brushes, filters, etc. The controlunit of such a floor maintenance tool could also be configured so thatstored information on motor hours and component change out time isdownloadable to an external analysis device. Thus, this data could beaccessed by a handheld PDA, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, orother devices which would record, analyze, and make the informationavailable to the user. The device of the invention could also beconfigured with sensors for various components to sense when thecomponents had been changed, so that this information would update thecalculation of component change out time compared to motor run time.

[0017] Still other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description wherein we have shown and described only thepreferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration ofthe best mode contemplated by carrying out our invention. As will berealized, the invention is capable of modification in various obviousrespects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regardedas illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof havebeen shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asimplied or defined in this disclosure and drawings.

[0020] The present invention is a method and apparatus for improving theuse, the maintenance, and the management of floor maintenance equipment.In the preferred embodiment, the present invention would comprise acontrol unit for integration into or attachment to a piece of floormaintenance equipment. This disclosure will discuss this piece of floormaintenance equipment as if the piece was a vacuum cleaner, however, allother forms of floor maintenance equipment and such equipment (bothindoors and outdoors) are also included in this disclosure, includingbut not limited to: vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, burnishers,extractors, spotters, leaf blowers, and the like.

[0021] One embodiment of the present invention would be a vacuum cleanerhaving a control unit controlling the operation of the vacuum. Thiscontrol unit could have a mechanical input channel for allowing a userto input information into the control unit. Examples of such inputinclude: (1) the entry of a password unlocking operation of the vacuumcleaner, (2) the entry of features wished to be enabled, (3) the entryof personal identification numbers (for tracking usage by a particularoperator), (4) input of reference information for tracking use of thevacuum cleaner, for instance client codes representing what client, whatbuilding and what location within a building that the vacuum cleaner wasused, (5) input of changes to the consumable components of the equipment(i.e., when a filter is changed, when a switch has been replaced, etc.),(6) input of requests to retrieve information stored in the controlunit, (7) input of information clearing the memory of the control unit,and (8) etc. This mechanical input channel may include input means suchas switches, buttons, keypads, etc.

[0022] The control unit could further have a memory system such as ROM(flash, NVRAM, or standard ROM, etc.), RAM (DRAM, SRAM, flash, etc.), orsome other form of storage (hard disk, optical disk, etc.). This memorysystem would be used to store program operations, error codes, data,etc. For instance, the memory system could store the informationinputted via the mechanical input channel.

[0023] The control unit could further have a processing unit which maycomprise a microprocessor/microcontroller; may utilize a programmablelogic device such as a PROM (programmable read only memory), PLA(programmable logic array) and/or PAL/GAL (programmable arraylogic/generic array logic); or may utilize a field programmable gatearray (FPGA).

[0024] The control unit may further have other input means, through anynumber of various channels, from a radio frequency (RF) channel, anultrasonic (US) channel, cable connections to computers, docking stationconnections, etc.

[0025] The control unit may have global positioning unit capabilities incombination with a radio frequency transmitter (or similar link) forallowing a manager to track the movement of the vacuum cleaner through abuilding, or to allow the manager to locate a stolen or misplaced unit.Optionally, a manager would have the ability to “lock-out” other usersof the vacuum in the case of a stolen unit—thereby rendering the unitinoperative.

[0026] The control unit may have the ability to communicate, preferablythrough a communication means, with other control units, computers,hand-held units (i.e., PDA's), etc. This would allow the control unit totransmit real time data, including who was operating the vacuum, wherethey are, how long they have been working, whether any alarm conditionshave been triggered by the vacuum cleaner, etc. This data would becollected and either displayed instantaneously in a real-time mode, orstored for later playback, display, and analysis. This data could betransmitted to a central location for likewise display and analysis. Forinstance, error codes could be transmitted to the manufacturer orauthorized repair facility for feedback purposes; consumable conditioncodes and the percent of the consumable remaining (based upon apredetermined standard—i.e., a typical brush fails after X hours) couldbe transmitted to a pre-selected supplier of the consumables thereby“ordering” replacement consumables (such as brushes, switches, filters);and performance data, such as the number of hours the employee actuallyvacuumed and GPS data, could be transmitted to the manager fordetermining hours worked and where the employee vacuumed or could beused to calculate the square footage the employee vacuumed. Data couldalso be transmitted to a central location where it would be analyzed andthe manager would be contacted and informed as needed or where the datacould be displayed in an electronic form (such as hyper text markuplanguage) for later review by the manager. Also through suchcommunication, a remote user (such as the manufacturer) may be able toreview the conditions of the vacuum cleaner and troubleshoot problemsbeing experienced by the user.

[0027] The control unit would have any number of data output means forexporting data to another location or computer for analysis. Forinstance, radio frequency communications, infrared communications,ultrasonic communications, cabling (USB, Firewire, RAM card, parallelport, serial port, etc.), memory sticks, docking station capabilities,etc. This would allow the operator to export data generated by thecontrol unit into a separate computer system for analysis, reportgenerating, etc. For instance a docking station could be provided whichthe equipment plugs into. While plugged into the docking station, theequipment could export data into a computer system. Likewise, data couldbe uploaded back into the equipment for later use and function. Dataexported could be transmitted to a Internet or intranet server where itcould be displayed and sorted by location, user, etc. and complied intoa central manager database.

[0028] The control unit may have any number of sensors (including butnot limited to: air pressure, consumable componentcondition/state/operation, airflow, temperature, voltage, amperage, andload) for inputting additional data into the control unit. Examples ofthe benefits and uses of such sensors include sensing if there is aproblem with the vacuum cleaner (clogged hose, plugged filter,improperly installed cap, broken or jammed beater bar, electricalproblem, etc.); sensing if the motor is overheating; and sensing whenthe filter/belt/switch/motor needs to be repaired or replaced. Thesensors will relay information collected about sensed conditions to thecontrol unit for processing.

[0029] If the control unit determines that a triggering event orcondition has occurred, the control unit may have the ability to shutdown or reduce the operability of the vacuum cleaner. For instance, ifthe control unit determines that the airflow through the hose of thevacuum motor has been reduced to a critical point (indicating a possibleplugged hose), the control unit could sound an alarm and/or shut downthe vacuum cleaner. An alarm code or other information could then bedisplayed to the operator, thereby assisting the operator in fixing theproblem and getting the device running again (if possible). Theinformation could be delivered to the operator through use of audio orvisual cues. Additionally, this information could be transmitted to amanager or central location for informational purposes, orderingsupplies or dispatching a repairman to repair the unit. Alarms could bestored for later retrieval.

[0030] Specific embodiments of the present invention include, but arenot limited to, the following:

[0031] Password lock out control unit embodiments. In this embodimentthe control unit includes a power interrupt is located between theequipment's electrical components, i.e., motor(s), and the equipment'spower source, i.e., wall receptacle, battery, etc. In this embodiment,an access pass code is stored in the memory system. When an authorizeduser wishes to use the equipment, the user must first enter into thecontrol unit the appropriate pass code. If the entered pass code matchesthe stored pass code then the equipment will be powered. Without thecorrect pass code, the equipment will not be powered and will beinoperable. This entered pass coded could be entered any number of ways,but most likely would be through the mechanical input channel. A relatedembodiment would have the pass code locking out more advanced features.For instance, no pass code might be needed to operate the equipment ingeneral, but if “Feature X” is to be utilized, then the appropriate passcode must first be entered.

[0032] Use tracking embodiments. Another embodiment of the presentinvention utilizes the invented control unit to track the use of theequipment. For instance, when the operator/user starts to use theequipment, the user would key in to the mechanical input channel his/herpass code. Keying in the pass code would then start a timer and wouldcause the date and time to be stored in the memory system. Likewise,when the user stopped operation of the equipment the control unit couldstop the time and log the elapsed time of use, etc. This informationbeing of use as production data, for instance at the end of the workdaythe user's manager could check how many hours of vacuuming a vacuumspecialist put in. In a related embodiment, the user could also enterinformation about a client (client code), a project (project code), alocation (location code), etc. Thus, the manager could track thespecifics of who, what, where, and when user utilized the equipment.This feature would have great quality and production control benefits.Supplementation of this feature with GPS (global positioning satellite)data in conjunction with a graphical display, such as that provided by acomputer, could allow a manager to further check the work of the user,noting if the user forgot to clean any areas of the building. If thecontrol unit was attached to a communication means, for instance atransmitter or a docking station, this information could be transmittedto a separate location, for instance the “home office” for review.

[0033] Service tracking embodiments. In this embodiment the datacollected is stored for use in servicing the equipment. For instance,the number of hours the equipment is used can be logged to allow theservicer to determine the life span of certain parts, i.e., “Part X”typically fails after X hours of operation. Such data could also be usedin routine maintenance. For instance, a servicer when repairing theequipment for an unrelated issue could note the “Component X” hasexceeded its recommended hourly use and thereby go ahead and reduce thelikelihood of future downtime by replacing “Component X.”

[0034] Service reminder embodiments. The invented control unit couldserve to remind the operator or the operator's manager that service isdue, suggested or necessary. For instance, a vacuum cleaner could have areminder built therein which reminds the operator to change the filterbag every X hours. Such an embodiment would utilize a control unithaving the critical information (number of hours, sensor fault range,etc.) stored in the memory system. Then when the control unit determinesthat the appropriate condition(s) are met, for instance a sensor couldsense that the filter bag was full or a time sensor could sense that theequipment had been operated for X hours, the control unit would thenalert the appropriate individual that the condition has been met.Examples of such an alert could include audible alarms, visual displays,notes within printed out reports, etc.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 1, shown is another embodiment of thepresent invention. The device 10 is able to be electrically connectedwith a power source through use of a standard electrical plug 8. A powerswitch 12 is provided, as is a current sensor 14. A solid-state switch20 is provided in-line (as shown) with a motor 22. This embodimentutilizes a voltage divider 16 and a low-voltage supply 18. Input can beobtained through a low-voltage switch or keypad 24, encoding switches,wires, PLD, or Serial-Number Device 26, or pressure sensors 28. Thecontrol unit 30 has a micro-controller (processing unit) 32 as well as amemory system 34 (program memory (8K max.), non-volatile memory (256Bmax.)). A device select chip 36 is provided, as is extra non-volatilememory 38, a real-time clock 40, and a clock back-up power 44. Aparallel bus 54 may also be present connecting the extra non-volatilememory 38 and real-time clock 40 to the control unit 30. The parallelbus 54 may also connect with a liquid crystal display module (16 or 32char.) 46. Also connecting with the control unit 30 are a serialcommunications port (by wire or infrared LED) 48, LED's 50, and a beeper52.

[0036] While there is shown and described the present preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that thisinvention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied topractice within the scope of this disclosure and drawings.

We claim:
 1. A safety device for interrupting current flow between apower source and at least one electrical motor of a piece of floormaintenance equipment, said safety device comprising: a control unit forcontrolling said safety device; a memory system for storing an operationcode; and a mechanical input channel for allowing an operator to enteran access code into said control unit; wherein said control unitcompares said access code to said operation code; wherein if said accesscode matches said operation code current flow to said electrical motoris established; wherein if said access code does not match saidoperation code current flow to said electrical motor is leftinterrupted.
 2. A safety device for blocking use of at least oneelectrically controlled feature of a piece of floor maintenanceequipment, said safety device comprising: a control unit for controllingsaid safety device; a memory system for storing a feature code; and amechanical input channel for allowing an operator to enter an accesscode; wherein said control unit compares said access code to saidfeature code; wherein if said access code matches said feature code saidoperator is allowed to utilize said electrically controlled feature;wherein if said access code does not match said feature code operator isnot allowed to utilize said electrically controlled feature.
 3. An datacollecting device for use with a piece of floor maintenance equipment,said data collecting device comprising: a memory system for storage ofdata; a mechanical input channel for allowing an operator to enteroperator data, said operator data stored in said memory system; a dataoutput means for output of said memory system stored data to a computer.4. The data collection device of claim 3, wherein said operator datacomprises coding information representing a particular individualoperator thereby allowing for the tracking of what individual operatorhas operated said equipment.
 5. The data collection device of claim 3,wherein said operator data comprises coding information representing aparticular location thereby allowing for the tracking of what locationssaid equipment has been utilized.
 6. A data collecting device for usewith a piece of floor maintenance equipment, said data collecting devicecomprising: a memory system for storage of data; a sensor, said sensorcreating sensor data, said sensor data stored in said memory system; adata output means for output of said memory system stored data.
 7. Thedata collecting device of claim 6, wherein said memory system storeddata is outputted to a computer.
 8. The data collecting device of claim6, wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor.
 9. The data collectingdevice of claim 6, wherein equipment is a vacuum cleaner having a vacuumcleaner bag, wherein said sensor senses when said vacuum cleaner bag isfull.
 10. The data collecting device of claim 6, wherein said sensorsenses when the equipment is about to fail.
 11. The data collectingdevice of claim 6, wherein said sensor is a time sensor.
 12. Thedata-collecting device of claim 6, wherein said sensor is a globalposition sensor sensing the location of said equipment.
 13. A reminderdevice for use with a piece of floor maintenance equipment, said datacollecting device comprising: a control unit for controlling saidreminder device; an alert system for alerting the operator of saidequipment that a use threshold has been met; a memory system for storinga predetermined use threshold; and sensor means for sensing the use ofsaid equipment and creating sensor data reflecting said use, said sensordata stored in said memory system; wherein said control unit monitorsthe use of said equipment by comparing said sensor data to saidpredetermined use threshold, wherein when said sensor data meets saiduse threshold said control unit triggers said alert system to alert saidoperator that said use threshold has been met.
 14. The reminder deviceof claim 13, further comprising a second predetermined use thresholdstored in said memory system, wherein if said second threshold is metthe control unit terminates operation of said equipment.
 15. Thereminder device of claim 13, wherein said equipment is a vacuum cleaner,wherein said use threshold relates to hours of use of said vacuumcleaner, and wherein said alert system is utilized to remind saidoperator to replace the vacuum cleaner's filter.
 16. The reminder deviceof claim 13, wherein said threshold relates to the temperature of saidequipment.
 17. The reminder device of claim 13, wherein said controlunit monitors the use of said equipment by comparing said sensor data tosaid predetermined use threshold, wherein when said sensor data meetssaid use threshold said control unit transmits said sensor data to acomputer.
 18. The reminder device of claim 13, wherein said thresholdrelates to consumable components and wherein when said sensor data meetssaid use threshold said control unit transmits said sensor data to acomputer which orders replacement components.
 19. A tracking device fortracking the use of a piece of floor maintenance equipment being used toclean a building, said data collecting device comprising: a memorysystem for storage of data; a global positioning satellite receiver forreceiving global position data from a global positioning satellitesystem, said global position data stored in said memory system; a dataoutput means for output of said memory system stored data to a displaydevice attached to a computer, wherein an individual can view saiddisplay device to confirm where within a building said equipment wasutilized.
 20. An improved floor maintenance tool, in which the floormaintenance tool includes an electric motor and a tool head, in whichthe improvement comprises: a lockout switch which shuts off electricityto the electric motor of said floor maintenance tool unless deactivated;and a control unit, which activates or deactivates said lockout switchbased on predetermined control parameters.
 21. The improved floormaintenance tool of claim 20 which said control unit is a mechanicalinput device in which a user enters an access code, which deactivatessaid lockout switch and allows said user to turn on said floormaintenance tool, and entry of said access code is a control parameter.22. The improved floor maintenance tool of claim 20 which said controlunit is a digital input device in which a user enters an access code,which deactivates said lockout switch and allows said user to turn onsaid floor maintenance tool, and said access code is a controlparameter.
 23. The improved floor maintenance tool of claim 22 whichsaid control unit includes memory storage, a timer, and a computationunit, and one or more system sensors which sense a condition in one ormore systems of said floor maintenance tool, and makes a computationbased on said condition, and sends output to a display unit based onpredetermined condition rules.
 24. The improved floor maintenance toolof claim 23 which the system to be sensed is the motor of said tool, andthe condition to be sensed is a temperature of said motor, in which saidcomputation unit compares said temperature of said motor with anacceptable range of temperatures entered as a predetermined conditionrule, and is out of range, sends an alarm message to said display unit.25. The improved floor maintenance tool of claim 23 which the system tobe sensed is an air conduit, and the condition to be sensed is anairflow in air conduit, in which said computation unit compares saidairflow in said air conduit with an acceptable range of airflow enteredas a predetermined condition rule, and if out of range, sends an alarmmessage to said display unit.
 26. The improved floor maintenance tool ofclaim 25, in which said computation unit activates said lockout switchand shuts off electricity to said electric motor of said floormaintenance tool until deactivated.
 27. The improved floor maintenancetool of claim 25 in a first acceptable range of airflow is entered, anda first range of unacceptable airflow is entered as predeterminedcondition rules, and if said airflow is below said first acceptablerange of airflow and within said first unacceptable range of airflow,said computation unit sends a warning message to said display unit, andif said airflow is below said first unacceptable range of airflow, saidcomputation unit activates said lockout switch and shuts off electricityto said electric motor of said floor maintenance tool until deactivated.28. The improved floor maintenance tool of claim 23 in which the systemto be sensed is the motor, and the condition to be sensed is the on oroff condition of the motor, in which said computation unit records inmemory a total of the time said motor has been in an on condition sincethe time in memory has been reset, and on command, said computationsends said total time on motor to said display unit.
 29. The improvedfloor maintenance tool of claim 28 which further includes one or moresensors on system components, and maintains a record of time in use forthe system components being sensed by use of the time recorded for motoruse, and compares the time in use for a component against a change outtime, which is entered as a predetermined condition rule, and if achange out time has been passed, sends an alarm message to said displayunit.
 30. The improved floor maintenance tool of claim 29 in which saidcontrol unit is configured so that stored information on motor hours andcomponent change out time is downloadable to an external analysisdevice.